Yes, the new HTC One will have a Google Play Edition

When HTC takes the stage in a few hours to announce the all new HTC One (M8), take a close look at the latest version of Sense UI. Then forget whatever you see because a Sense-free version will debut in the form of a Google Play Edition.

HTC prematurely confirmed that an HTC One (M8) Google Play Edition phone will be released when it uploaded new apps onto Google Play early this morning. First spotted by Android Police, the description for one of the apps makes specific mention that the GPE edition of the M8 will be limited to editing photos rather than the full range of options seen in the Sense version. That makes it fairly obvious that a HTC One GPE (2014) model phone will be offered.

We don't know when the GPE will go on sale but it would be a surprise if it's available at the same time as the Sense-powered M8 that is expected to go on sale at Verizon today. We'll update this post if HTC provides confirmation at the launch event later today.